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The original was posted on /r/framework by /u/kylejtuck on 2024-06-25 23:59:49+00:00.

I posted this in r/eGPU but I know several fellow FW users have asked about eGPU setups.

With respect to the FW16 and the eGPU specifically, it has been running really well; much better than I expected, to be honest. There are some “weird” things, but they don’t get in the way of me enjoying playing the games I want to play at better than expected framerates.

My FW16 is the 7840HS, 64GB G.Skill Ripjaws 5600, SN850X 4TB, no dGPU, running Ubuntu 24.04.

I did boot to Windows to run Time Spy, but Windows was much more tricky. In Windows, the Framework GPU driver and desktop RX 7600 driver do not play well together. To complete the Time Spy benchmarking, I had to disable the iGPU/Framework driver.

In Ubuntu, if the eGPU is connected when the machine boots, it doesn’t perform at full speed. Simply unplugging the USB4 connection and then plugging it back in gets things sorted. If the eGPU was plugged in, but it’s unplugged when shutting down, Ubuntu hangs and I have to force shut down. Other than these two easy-to-work-around issues in Ubuntu, things “just work”.

Though I contemplated the RX 7700s dGPU, my current setup works much better for me (everyone’s use case will be different). I needed the larger screen of the FW16, and I contemplated the RX 7700s option. I’m glad I didn’t get it. I pretty much only game when home, but the iGPU can handle some games even when I travel. The dGPU adds a fair bit of size and weight to the FW16, and I’m happy to not have that when travelling. I was able to build the eGPU for less than the 7700s, and it performs better. And by piecing it together the way I did, I can always switch over to Oculink someday ().